called love hormone, oxytocin, sobers up drunk rats

February 24, 2015 10:10 PM

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Often called the "love hormone" for its role in promoting certain sexual and reproductive behaviors, as well as long-term mating, oxytocin also has a less romantic effect. As researchers from Australia's University of Sydney and the University of Regensburg, in Germany, recently found, the hormone blocks the inebriating effects of alcohol.

"In the rat equivalent of a sobriety test, the rats given alcohol and oxytocin passed with flying colours, while those given alcohol without oxytocin were seriously impaired," lead study author Dr. Michael Bowen, a researcher at Sydney's School of Psychology, explained in a press release.